10 NFL 2021 games to look forward to

After focusing on my NFL draft recap videos in the last few weeks, I would like to talk about a few NFL 2021 games I have already circled on my calendar.

I have picked out my ten favorite contests to look forward to during the season and then listed another 25 games I know I’ll be watching. That's because of some of the storylines and matchups that could have potential NFL 2021 playoff implications.

We have 18 NFL games on the slate this year for the first time, so there were a few more games to choose from. Without further ado, let's have a look at the ten best NFL 2021 games to watch out for:

#10 NFL 2021 Game: Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals (Week 4 – TNF)

This game could determine which of the two talented young NFL teams is on the cusp of breaking out.

Neither team may be in playoff reckoning, even though the AFC South could easily have a 9-8 team winning the division. The Jaguars and Bengals have underrated rosters but have highly promising signal-callers and under-the-radar playmakers on both sides of the ball.

The two NFL defenses are a bit questionable at this point, but there’s some talent on both teams that has already impressed. And the two coaching personnel are very interesting, Urban Meyer and company will be the new thing in the NFL, while Zac Taylor’s group will look to redeem themselves after a poor campaign. Either NFL team could go 1-3 after this game, though.

#9 NFL 2021 Game: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (Week 18 – 4:25 pm)

The NFC West is going to be interesting once again. This has been a division, that outside of the Cardinals, have had three teams with two-year runs as NFL champions in the last decade. Arizona had one season where they made a run at the conference, and there were three different winners in each of the last three years.

It always seems hard to predict games in this NFL division. But if Trey Lance can quickly get acclimatised, these two NFL teams could be the last ones standing in the division.

Looking at the history between Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, the Niners coach has had the upper-hand so far. The 49ers swept the Rams last season, despite their injury-riddled campaign. With the division on the line when these two NFL teams clash on Sunday Night, another classic like in 2019 could ensue.

#8 NFL 2021 Game: Seattle Seahawks at Washington Football Team (Week 12 – MNF)

This one is a really underrated NFL game. That's because Washington aren't a big-name team at this point, but they could be the favorites to win the NFC East, and when you look at their roster, they have no key pieces missing.

Ryan Fitzpatrick may have his ups and downs, but he can get as hot as any passer in the NFL. Russell Wilson, meanwhile, will face one of the most talented defensive lines in the league.

The Seahawks are an interesting team as well, but they will need some of their young players to step up if they want to keep pace in that division. When these two NFL teams squared off last season, Dwayne Haskins had the Football Team on the brink of the red-zone, with a chance to take the lead late. This game could come down to the wire too.

#7 NFL 2021 Game: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers (Week 3 – SNF)

Just like Seattle and Russell Wilson, the relationship between the Packers and their MVP quarterback is one to keep an eye on. But assuming we get at least one more year, this could be a well-contested NFL matchup.

Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay got their chance for revenge last season after the 49ers handed them two really bad losses in 2019, which kept them from going to the Super Bowl.

San Francisco might have a rookie quarterback starting for them, but they have no excuses this time. The bludgeoning run game and the ferocious defensive front that gave Green Bay trouble are still there. The thing to watch will be DeMeco Ryans stepping in for now-Jets head coach Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator.

It remains to be seen how well he will fare playing against Rodgers at the other end, coming off another all-time great season.

#6 NFL 2021 Game: Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens (Week 2 – SNF)

This was the NFL game I had at number one a year ago. Everybody expected these two teams to match up against each other in the AFC Championship game, but the Titans had other ideas.

When this game came about, it was a rather underwhelming affair, as Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and Eric Bienemy tore apart Baltimore’s blitz-heavy defense. It was a week three Monday Night edition back then, and this year we get it a week earlier on a Sunday.

While I’d prefer to see both teams in mid-season form, this could definitely be a tone-setter. We get the 2018 and 2019 MVPs, who could be frontrunners again this season to earn those honors. As Lamar Jackson said himself, the Chiefs have been their kryptonite so far.

The Orlando Brown trade gives us an interesting angle, but I will really be watching how much both Ravens coordinators have learned from their past experience.

#5 NFL 2021 Game: Buffalo Bills at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 14 – 4:25 pm)

Brady just can’t give up the AFC East, as the trip back to Foxborough will be the biggest event on the slate. That's because he'll go up against the new standard for quarterback play in that division, and Josh Allen could have a chance to beat the Patriots legend.

Moreover, these are two of the final four teams from last season, and this game could easily be a Super Bowl preview. Allen and that group of receivers will be looking to spread the field and neutralize Tampa Bay’s ferocious pass-rush.

The Bucs, meanwhile, will look to test Buffalo’s defensive interior, which finished dead-middle in terms of rushing yards allowed. The Bucs were helped out by their offense, forcing the opposition to get into catch-up mode. They surrendered 140 yards in nine different games altogether, with Ronald Jones, Leonard Fournette and others.

The fact that this game is in warm Florida rather than Western New York in December could be a big factor, but I think the biggest key will be the development of their young linebackers for the Bills.

#4 NFL 2021 Game: Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens (Week 12 – SNF)

The Browns are notorious for being slow starters at this point, but these two division foes will only square off against each other in week twelve. I’m going with their Sunday Night battle in Baltimore rather than their 1 PM kickoff two weeks later.

Last NFL season, we started with a 38-6 blowout in Baltimore, while the week 14 version of this matchup was arguably the best game of the season. We saw 89 combined points, a lot of back-and-forths and a heroic comeback by Lamar Jackson.

I’ll be looking forward to what Jackson can do with improved weapons around him against a Browns team that heavily invested in their defense this off-season.

#3 NFL 2021 Game: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs (Week 5 – SNF)

With the New Orleans winning the NFC South last season, we don’t get a rematch between the Buccaneers and Packers. But we do get to watch the AFC Championship game rematch.

The 14-point difference in that contest would suggest a fairly competitive game this time around. But after the Bills quickly went up 9-0, it never felt like the Chiefs lost control again. They had an offensive gameplan that was built around protecting Patrick Mahomes’ injured foot and had a quick-rhythm passing attack.

KC’s secondary was punking Buffalo’s receiver with a ton of press coverage. Their week six Monday afternoon matchup was closer but was an odd game of sorts, as both quarterbacks struggled with ball-handling and accuracy in the rain. Clyde Edwards-Helaire led the way with a 245-yard rushing day.

This season, we will get both team, right as they are hitting their groove. The Bills will want to prove they are still contenders for the conference as they head back to Arrowhead.

#2 NFL 2021 Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots (Week 4 – SNF)

There’s not much of an explanation needed here. We have Tom Brady going home and facing the team, where he played two decades and won six Super Bowls with.

People will probably make way too much about determining who was most responsible for the Patriots’ dynasty, based on just one game. However, this game will be a fascinating watch.

Brady is coming off winning a ring in his first year at his new team, where he’s now tossing Lombardi trophies rather than doing the 'New England way'. The best football coach in NFL history, meanwhile, is trying to build up a new winning team after making a splash in free agency.

So the duel between these two GOATs could be very enticing for NFL fans. This will also be Gronk’s return to Foxborough, and it could be a major prove-it matchup for Cam Newton, with a first-round signal-caller ready in line.

#1 NFL 2021 Game: Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs (Week 9 – 4:25 PM)

This matchup could feature Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. We were robbed of that duel in consecutive years now, as the Packers lost the NFC Championship Game, with the Chiefs awaiting them.

When we were supposed to see these guys square up in the regular season a couple of years ago, Mahomes wasn’t able to play host, missing one of two games because of a seemingly-dislocated knee cap. I don’t always want to make it about the quarterbacks, but when we get the best signal-caller of the last decade going up against who I believe could be the top guy in the 2020s, we have to make them the focal point here.

Rodgers beat Mahomes for the MVP award last year, while the latter was able to get to his second Super Bowl, which has eluded Rodgers since he won his lone ring in 2010. Unless the situation in Green Bay can’t be resolved, we'll get to see this QB duel twice with Denver, as we get these two teams exactly in the middle of their respective campaigns.

If the football gods are very generous, we will see them lock horns again in LA in mid-February.

Best of the rest:

Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 1 – TNF)

Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs (Week 1 – 4:25 pm)

New York Giants at Washington Football Team (Week 2 – TNF)

Los Angeles Rams at Indianapolis Colts (Week 2 – 1 pm)

New York Jets at Denver Broncos (Week 3 – 4:05 pm)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Rams (Week 3 – 4:25 pm)

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks (Week 5 – TNF)

Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns (Week 6 – 4:25 pm)

Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans (Week 6 – MNF)

Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams (Week 7 – 4:05 pm)

New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks (Week 7 – MNF)

San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears (Week 8 – 1 pm)

Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings (Week 8 – SNF)

New England Patriots at Carolina Panthers (Week 9 – 1 pm)

Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers (Week 10 – 4:25 pm)

Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders (Week 10 – SNF)

Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers (Week 11 – SNF)

New York Giants at Miami Dolphins (Week 13 – 1 pm)

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (Week 13 – MNF)

Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers (Week 15 – TNF)

Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Ravens (Week 15 – 1 pm)

Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers (Week 16 – SAT 4:30 pm)

Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals (Week 16 – SAT 8:15 pm)

Miami Dolphins at Tennessee Titans (Week 17 – 1 pm)

Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Ravens (Week 17 – 4:25 pm).

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